BIO016 Anticonvulsant effect of tea of Jatropha curcas Linn in mice

Abstract

The genus Jatropha belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, widely distributed in the wild or semi-cultivated areas in Central and South America, Africa, India and South East Asia. Ethnopharmacological studies show that the leaves and other parts of the Jatropha curcas are used in traditional medicine to treat wounds, fever, rheumatism, mouth infections, cancer, toothache, convulsions, cough and fever. Evaluation of J. curcas have demonstrated their different pharmacological effects, among them anticoagulant, coagulant, antidiabetic and neuroprotective. Phytochemical investigation on the chemical constituents of the J. curcas leaves have resulted in the isolation and structure identification of flavonoids and its glycosides, sterols, steroid sapogenins, alkaloids, triterpenes, and phorbol esters diterpenes, the main toxins present in oil and seeds, leaves, stems, flowers and roots of J. curcas. Pathological symptoms are related with the consumption of J. curcas in any form, oil, seeds, seed cake or extracts; however the young leaves may be safely eaten.